First, weather will play a big part of when we are able to start this spring work. Historical experience tells us that most times concrete work begins around mid- to late-April, with grading work and lawn installation following behind. Frost must be out of the ground before we can begin exterior concrete work. Although the weather has started to warm up, it will be several weeks before the frost in the ground has melted and we can start pouring concrete. Frost laws in Michigan are governed by each county and start and stop at the county’s discretion. We continue to monitor the weather and check the frost depth in all our markets in order to start the work as soon as possible.

Allen Edwin Homes pours concrete, with grading work and lawn installation following behind. Other open items for your home that are not contingent on the sequence of others such as exterior paint, will be scheduled as timely and efficient as possible per community. Once the exterior concrete is completed, final grading is typically completed within a couple weeks as long as the soil remains relatively dry. Final grade is also a municipality inspected item that may require your municipality to inspect and grant a passing inspection before the next step (yard, landscaping, etc.) can commence.

Allen Edwin also does not allow the installation of sprinkler systems prior to the installation of the lawn, other than systems purchased through our landscaping company. Our lawn packages are setup so that our installers do not have to work around sprinkler systems nor assume liability for any damages. If you elect to install a sprinkler system, you will need to make arrangement after the lawn is complete or contact our landscaping company for pricing information.

If your home only has exterior items that need to be completed, then it is not required for you to be home. 

When completing the final grade, heavy equipment is brought in to grade your yard to the specifications of the engineered site plan approved by your municipality at the time we received the permit to build your home. Any structures such as a play area, pet kennels, fencing, etc. cannot be installed until AFTER your final grade is complete and your municipality has “passed” the final grade.

In order to complete all spring work in an efficient and timely manner, we will not work in the exact order of when the home was closed. This would mean our crews would be traveling all over and completing tasks one at a time, creating a tremendous delay in overall timeliness. There are also certain criteria such as: lot conditions, municipality requirements, and lending requirements that prevent us from completing homes in the order of closings. Instead, our crews will group their work to get as much work done as possible in a specified area at a given time. This may mean that some homes may be completed prior to your home, although they moved in after you. Homes currently under construction, that are completed after the frost laws expire, require exterior concrete and other items to be complete in order to receive their Certificate of Occupancy. Many lending programs also require exterior items to be complete after winter conditions have been lifted in order to close the home.

Once grading is complete and the grading has passed final inspection, your lawn or landscaping will be installed per your building agreement and/or community requirements. It is important to realize that prior to sod installation, we will do a finish grade in the area receiving sod that will require the soil to be dry in order to be effective. This process is much more delicate than a final grade done by a bulldozer and therefore may create a delay in installation if the area is not dry.

You may have items you have already reported to the Customer Care Department that could not be completed prior to winter. If your home has only exterior items needing to be completed, then it is not required for you to be home.   If we need to access your home for some interior items, you will be receiving a phone call to set up an appointment. Certain issues may require our Customer Care Specialists to re-visit your home and re-inspect the issue prior to determining the proper course of action, since exterior items are difficult to diagnose when covered with snow. We will be doing inspections during upcoming weeks as the weather allows.

Weather forecasts beyond a few days are unpredictable and beyond a week is unknown. Spring historically brings rainy weather and any rain can and will push back any work on concrete, grading and lawn/landscape work. As we complete the concrete work and the grading, we will better be able (weather permitting) to schedule lawn/landscape work.

The schedule posted above will explain when the concrete work will be started at your home. It is very important that you park your cars in the street or make other arrangements during this time, since you will not be able to drive on the driveway for a period of 7 days after installation. Please download and complete the Vacation Notification Form if you will be out of town so we can prevent installing your driveway with your car in the garage.

Allen Edwin Homes stands behind the quality of your home with a warranty. Since concrete, grading and landscaping work is all affected by the layers of ground it covers, this base must be up to certain standards before the work begins. Completing and installing exterior open items in conditions not suitable by the manufacturer or municipalities guidelines would void and/or further extend the length of time to properly complete the open items. For all exterior earth work, there cannot be any frost left in the ground. In addition, spring rains can soften the earth. Soil must be fairly dry for most work to be done properly. Let’s all hope for a warm and dry spring!